| Ernest W. McFarland served Arizona in all branches of government, as United States Senator, 1941-53, Governor, 1955-59, and Justice of the Supreme Court, 1965-71. It was in the Senate that McFarland drew on past experience in local politics, farming, and law to fashion the career upon which his reputation as a productive public servant is largely based.;McFarland was skilled in both designing and expediting legislation relevant to the interests of his state in areas including agriculture, mining, and particularly irrigation and reclamation. His work on the Central Arizona Project paved the way for its ultimate passage in 1968.;On the national level, McFarland drew up legislation of lasting significance including all three social security increases passed during his two terms as senator and the revision of the Communications Act of 1934. Most importantly, he authored the home and business loan and educational funding sections of the 1944 landmark act, the GI Bill of Rights.;Concerning foreign affairs, McFarland supported President Roosevelt's wartime and President Truman's postwar policies. In both instances he backed a well-prepared and hardline stance. He tended towards fiscal conservatism with foreign aid while urging self-help for other nations and recommending their responsibility to honor and acknowledge commitments such as war debts to the United States.;McFarland was elected United States Senate Majority Leader in 1951 and held the position for his final two years on Capitol Hill, a period marked by the Korean War. His leadership verified both the complexities of national politics and his ability to adjust to them. Personally a "conscience" liberal, "Mac" became in practice a political moderate responsive at times to conservative interests. He displayed great skill at negotiation, compromise, and bringing people of different views together. These functions constitute the essence of the productive legislative process, an area in which he was a recognized authority and leader. |
